Technical Support and Remote Functionality for a Wearable Computing System

• US 20140368980A1
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Nanavati, Sharvil, Ho, Casey Kwok Ching
• Application Number:
  US13/367,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing technical support for a wearable computing system are described. The wearable computing system may receive a command from a user requesting assistance with operation of the wearable computing system and may initiate a technical support session to request the assistance. The wearable computing system may be connected to a technical support associate through a technical support server over a network and may provide through the technical support server a camera feed of a camera coupled to the wearable computing system, information associated with sensors coupled to the wearable computing system, and access for operating the wearable computing system to the technical support associate. The wearable computing system may also provide an audio communication channel between the user and the technical support associate through a microphone coupled to the wearable computing system. The wearable computing system may receive and execute commands through the technical support session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a camera coupled to a head-mountable display (HMD) of a wearable computing device, a camera feed indicative of a wearer-view through a field of view of the HMD, wherein the HMD is at least partially transparent, and wherein the wearer-view includes an environment of the HMD;

in response to receiving the camera feed, generating, by the wearable computing device, a view of a content displayed on the HMD, wherein the content overlays the environment of the wearable computing device in the wearer-view, and wherein the content is indicative of a malfunction related to operation of a sensor of a plurality of sensors coupled to the wearable computing device, the plurality of sensors including the camera;

in response to the content being indicative of the malfunction related to operation of the sensor, initiating, via a wireless communication interface coupled to the wearable computing device, a technical support session to request assistance with operation of the wearable computing device;

providing to a first source associated with the technical support session, by the wearable computing device, access for operating the wearable computing device;

providing to the first source, by the wearable computing device, the camera feed;

providing to the first source, by the wearable computing device, the view of the content indicative of the malfunction;

providing to the first source, by the wearable computing device, information output by one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors that are different from the camera;

receiving, at the wearable computing device, a first command from the first source based on;

(i) the view of the content displayed on the HMD, (ii) the information output by the one or more sensors, and (iii) the camera feed;

providing an audio communication channel, through a microphone coupled to the wearable computing device;

receiving, at the wearable computing device, a second command from a second source based at least in part on communication by way of the audio communication channel; and

based on one or more of the first command and the second command, the wearable computing device adjusting one or more parameters associated with the sensor so as to remove at least a portion of the malfunction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information output by the one or more sensors provide information associated with an ambient environment in which the wearable computing device is operated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera feed provides a recorded video associated with the wearer-view through the field of view of the HMD.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera feed provides a real-time video of the wearer-view through the field of view of the HMD.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the malfunction is related to operation of the camera, and wherein adjusting the one or more parameters associated with the sensor based on the one or more of the first command and the second command comprises calibrating the camera.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information output by the one or more sensors that are different from the camera indicates that the malfunction is related to operation of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the one or more parameters associated with the sensor based on the one or more of the first command and the second command comprises calibrating the at least one sensor of the one or more sensors.

3. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. A computer readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by a wearable computing device to cause the wearable computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, by a camera coupled to a head-mountable display (HMD) of the wearable computing device in a forward-facing configuration, a camera feed indicative of a wearer-view through a field of view of the HMD, wherein the HMD is at least partially transparent, and wherein the wearer-view includes an environment of the HMD;

in response to receiving the camera feed, generating, by the wearable computing device, a view of a content displayed on the HMD, wherein the content overlays the environment of the wearable computing device in the wearer-view, and wherein the content is indicative of a malfunction related to operation of a sensor of a plurality of sensors coupled to the wearable computing device, the plurality of sensors including the camera;

in response to the content being indicative of the malfunction related to operation of the sensor, initiating, via a wireless communication interface coupled to the wearable computing device, a technical support session to request assistance with operation of the wearable computing device.

providing to a source associated with the technical support session, by the wearable computing device, access for operating the wearable computing device;

providing to the source, by the wearable computing device, the camera feed;

providing to the source, by the wearable computing device, the view of the content indicative of the malfunction;

providing to the source, by the wearable computing device, information output by one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors that are different from the camera;

receiving, at the wearable computing device, a command from the source based on;

(i) the camera feed, (ii) the view of the content displayed on the HMD, and (iii) the information output by the one or more sensors; and

based on the command, the wearable computing device adjusting one or more parameters associated with the sensor so as to remove at least a portion of the malfunction.

11. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable by the wearable computing device to cause the wearable computing device to perform functions comprising:

providing an audio communication channel, through a microphone coupled to the wearable computing device;

receiving, at the wearable computing device, a given command from a given source associated with the technical support session based at least in part on communication by way of the audio communication channel; and

executing, by the wearable computing device, the given command.

12. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the information output by the one or more sensors that are different from the camera indicates that the malfunction is related to operation of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors.

14. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the function of adjusting the one or more parameters associated with the sensor based on the command comprises calibrating the at least one of the one or more sensors.

15. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the camera feed provides a recorded video associated with the wearer-view through the field of view of the HMD.

16. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the camera feed provides a real-time video of the wearer-view through the field of view of the HMD.

17. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the information output by the one or more sensors provide information associated with one or more attributes of a current environment in which the wearable computing device is operated.

13. (canceled)

18. A system comprising:

a wearable computing device including a head-mountable display (HMD) that is at least partially transparent;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the wearable computing device, wherein the plurality of sensors include a camera coupled to the HMD in a forward facing configuration and further include one or more sensors different from the camera;

a microphone coupled to the wearable computing device; and

a processor in communication with the wearable computing device, the microphone, and the plurality of sensors, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive, via the camera, a camera feed indicative of a wearer-view through a field of view of the HMD, wherein the wearer-view includes an environment of the HMD;

in response to receiving the camera feed, generate a view of a content displayed on the HMD, wherein the content overlays the environment of the wearable computing device in the wearer-view, and wherein the content is indicative of a malfunction related to operation of a sensor of the plurality of sensors coupled to the wearable computing device;

in response to the content being indicative of the malfunction related to operation of the sensor, initiate a technical support session to request assistance with operation of the wearable computing device;

provide access for operating the wearable computing device to a first source associated with the technical support session;

provide to the first source the camera feed;

provide to the first source the view of the content indicative of the malfunction;

provide to the first source information associated with a condition of the wearable computing device including information output by the one or more sensors that are different from the camera;

receive from the first source a first command based on;

(i) the camera feed, (ii) the view of the content displayed on the HMD, and (iii) the information associated with the condition of the wearable computing device;

provide an audio communication channel, through the microphone;

receive a second command from a second source based at least in part on communication by way of the audio communication channel; and

based on one or more of the first command and the second command, adjust one or more parameters associated with the sensor so as to remove at least a portion of the malfunction.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wearable computing device is in a form of a pair of eyeglasses.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the information output by the one or more sensors provide information associated with an ambient environment in which the wearable computing device is being operated including one or more of (i) a geographic location, and (ii) a time.